Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki dies following cancer fight; Sundar Pichai shares heartfelt tributes

Susan Wojcicki, a pioneering figure in the tech industry and former CEO of YouTube, has passed away at the age of 56 following a two-year battle with cancer. The news of her death was confirmed by her husband, Dennis Troper, on August 9.

Troper, broke the news of her demise with a Facebook post. “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of Susan Wojcicki passing. My beloved wife of 26 years and mother to our five children left us today after 2 years of living with non-small cell lung cancer. Susan was not just my best friend and partner in life, but a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a dear friend to many. Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable. We are heartbroken, but grateful for the time we had with her. Please keep our family in your thoughts as we navigate this difficult time,” he wrote, as quoted by Hindustan Times report.

The announcement of Wojcicki's passing has led to an outpouring of tributes from across the tech world. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, expressed his grief on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, “Unbelievably saddened by the loss of my dear friend Susan Wojcicki after two years of living with cancer. She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it’s hard to imagine the world without her.”

Wojcicki, a trailblazer for women in the technology sector, stepped down as CEO of YouTube in 2023 after a nine-year tenure. She cited a desire to “start a new chapter focused on my family, health, and personal projects I’m passionate about” as the reason for her departure. “It would be one of the best decisions of my life,” Wojcicki noted in her announcement at the time, as per The Guardian.

Before her role at YouTube, Wojcicki served as a senior vice-president for ad products at Google, where she played a pivotal role in the company’s growth. Her career also included stints at Intel and Bain & Company before she joined Google in its early days, as per The Guardian report.

Following her departure, Indian-American Neal Mohan was appointed as the new CEO of YouTube in February 2023, succeeding Wojcicki after her remarkable 25-year career with the Google-owned company.